New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-04
of that stamp in Europe, some OF the problems
that now face this Nation would not be press
ing for solution.
THE SUCCESSION IN FRANCE.

The unexpected in France is that familiar
political beast known to Americans as the dark
horse. Having adopted one eXpcdicnt lcgaIlzcd
by Legislatures and parties in the United
States. namely, the caucus. Republicans beyond
the sea have carried their initiative talents
still further and elected to the Presidency u
candidate whose name had received only
mcagre mention in connection with that olllcc
The balIoting in the caucus showed that neither
NJ. dc Frcycnct nor VI. Ferry could he elected
without support from the mischief making
Royalsts. The patriotism Of the Rcpubilcan
Deputies was equal to the emergency W.
B,isson not proving powerful magnet was
thrust aside and w. Sadi-Carnot received an
overwhelming majority Of the caucus vote
When the National Assembly met The Rcpub-
iican candidate was elected by the united
vote Of OppOrtuniSts and Radicals.
The new President in one sense was a con-
vcnicnt compromise candidate. lie had served
IN the Ministries of both VI. de FrcYClnc, and
NJ. Ferry, the chief rivals for The Presidential
Office, and consequently was equally acceptable
to the supporters OF each Statesman. He was
Minister OF Public Works under VI. Ferry ana
Minister Of Finance under NJ. de ErcNcln''.
While he has never taken conspicuous part
in the debates of the Chamber, he has been
an efficient Minister and in the great depart
mcnt of Public Works has rendered signal SER
vice to the State III carrying cut the c0mpiclch-
Sivc schemes Of national Improvement planned
by NJ de Tcycincl. We suspect, however.
that the secret Of his unexpected election 10 Che
Presidency viii be found in the record Of hi.
If bn Eirntpp htpaItmpIf II
1856, when he was in u. &c Ere. met Min
iStry. he proposed ON the part Of the Govern
mcnt the authorization of the Panama Com
panys lottery bonds. similar schemes had
received the sanction Of the Chambers when
the security was beyond suspicion. a. in In"
case Of the City of Paris lottery bonds. IN
this instance the risks If So speculative an
enterprise as the Panama Canal Company were
considered too serious and VI. d'-Camot
proposal was rejected after a maStcily report
had been made by VI. RouS,cau lie is now
elected President at the critical moment when
NJ. dc lcSScpS's enterprise may literally be- sad
to be in the last ditch.
1t cannot be doubted that the desperate .olt-
unes Of this ill-ialcd project have had sono-
thing to do with this unexpected result. The
confidence Of small inv cstoIS in every French
hamlet The securities of the company, low
seriously deprecated. are hcld by large classes
Of electors, OF whom the Deputies naturally
stand in awe. Unless the Government inter
vcncs in their behalf by sancionIng the Hotter!
loan, great RUIN viii be Callscd InmcdLuci! %!
the collapse OF the enterprise. II seems prob
able that when the break from VI. dc lTc!cind
and NJ. Ferry occurred the silent influence oi
VI. dc lcSscp>'s shareholders VAS feat III the
selection of VI. >ad-Carnot as the Republican
choice for the Presidency. The I,cpuDl1'.
however. is to be congratulated upon the pacific
close Of one Of the most cycntiui cli>cS oI IT.
history The MonarchISt factions have Dccn
baliicd. The Republican groups have united aS
one man. Democratic institutions IN rance
nave not been subjected to serious STRAIN ny
crisis which would have prccipitatcd rcyoiu
lion fifteen years ago.